RUBBER GRIPS: Who likes, and who doesn't?

[SharpsDressedMan]

This applies to both revolvers and autos, so here goes. I have pretty much discontinued use of rubber grips over the years due to not being able to get as firm a grip, they don't look as good as nicely done wood grips, and they snag on clothing during the draw too often. My only exception is those that come on the 500 S&W, which serve to dampen the recoil of this obvious heavy banger. I have tried wood grips on that one, too, but the real heavy loads need the rubber grips. For me, all the lesser recoiling gun are not a problem with wood or hard grips, so those guns get dressed up when possible (hard to put wood or ivory on a Glock, for instance). How do the rest of you feel about rubber type grips?

 

[451 Detonics]

For concealed carry I prefer a hard grip that doesn't "catch" on my clothes. Range and target guns often get rubber. It's nice to have the tackier grip when you have been standing around in the sun when it is 90 out waiting for your relay.

 

[9mmepiphany]

Rubber grips shine in duty wear, because duty guns are always bumping into things. I usually put Aluminum or G-10 grips on guns I use for defense and daily carry.

While I love the look of wood, I don't find that they shine for concealed carry. They react to moisture and lubes and can swell to impringe on a guns function

 

[Sauer Grapes]

I've only handled a couple pistols with rubber grips. I like them for range guns, but not so much for the snag factor on a CCW.
I like the look of black grips on a stainlees gun though.

 

[mes228]

Rubber

I don't dislike them. However you must be careful, as I have had several pistols that were rusted under the rubber grips. One was hard chrome and it was even pitted. It takes extra dilligence with rubber grips. On occassion remove them and grease/oil as they seem to draw/collect moisture or something. I don't understand the process. I never buy a used pistol with rubber grips without checking underneath for rust. Practically all are rusted.

 

[9mmepiphany]

Here is a set of 220s with different Hogue grips

The 220 is wearing the rubber panels from when it served as my duty gun, the 220ST wears a set of their aluminum panels

 

[6x6pinz]

I prefer Hogues on my large frames and pachmayr on my small frames, no wood or plastic on any.

 

[Dogguy]

From a purely functional standpoint, I prefer rubber grips on revolvers and wood or plastic on automatics.

 

[aryfrosty]

Rubber grips.

I admit to liking them. If I am going to pocket carry a handgun I stay away from them, but for holster carry I seek them out for the snappier rounds. I still have the first set of Pachmayr Compac Professionals I ever tried and they are on a 3" M-64 S&W.

 

[Jeb21]

I rather have rubber grips on my revolvers. They just tend to fit my hands better. I even have rubber grips on several of my carry revolvers and pistols. The snagging issue has not really presented a problem for me so far.

 

[BCRider]

I've got rubber on my CZ Shadow and two sets of Hogue rubber grips on revolvers. While I recognize that they work extremely well for range and competition work I find that the revolver versions in particular are just dog gone UGLY! ! ! !

Another revolver uses oiled wood grips and thanks to the oil finish they don't seem to get too slippery... but then I haven't used this gun on a sweltering hot summer day match yet.

Yes, the rubber is nicely tacky. Up here we don't CCW unless you're a plainclothes LEO so the way the rubber would catch on clothing isn't even a consideration for us. On the range at the start line with an RO holding a timer behind your head they ROCK!

 

[orionengnr]

I like the Hogue rubber grips on my K-frame and N-frame S&Ws.

 

[RKRCPA]

Uncle Mike's Boot grip on J frame snubby, Pachmayr Compac's on L Frame snubby, everything else gets wood.

 

[g.a.stahle]

I have a set of rubber Pachmayr grips on my Sig P225/P6. They're worlds better than the original grips that came on it.

 

[brandon_mcg]

i enjoy them for range shooting. as others have said, i prefer checkered wood on my carry guns.

 

[CraigC]

I despise them. They are ugly. They are sticky. They catch on clothing. They pick up lint and look like a black T-shirt I slept in. They are ugly. They do not absorb recoil. They catch your skin and rub it off. They are ugly. 99% of the time they are uncomfortable. Pachy's are too thin and Hogue's are too thin with an irritating ambidextrous palm swell. They are inferior in every way to properly fitting custom grips of wood, stag, ivory or micarta.....and they are ugly.

I have never had wood grips "react to moisture or oil".

They do have one thing going for them, they are cheap.

 

[MidwestRookie]

I love them. I also don't carry...

 

[chris in va]

I like the hard plastic grips on my CZ 75BD better than the rubber ones. That's about all I can add to the topic.

 

[RON in PA]

IMHO they greatly improve shooting revolvers.

 

[9mmforMe]

I like rubber boot grips for J frame revolvers. On my semi-autos the hard plastic is just fine for me.

 

[usp9]

The few guns I have that have rubber grips are great, I put the rubber sleeves on some of the polymer framed guns too. Wood is sexy, but soft rubber sticks to my hand. Plastic is my least favorite.

 

[hardluk1]

I use hogues soft rubber grips on all my revolvers and slip overs on my KT's Only my glocks are still as made. Never had a problem hanging on material with 26years of carry'n or hunting. Woods pretty but don't use them.

 

[yeti]

I tried then, even wanted to like them, found that at best they didn't work, for me, any better than wood so almost everything wears wood now and they all look much better for it.

 

[Steve 48]

I don't mind the recoil and I like the wood grips much better.

 

[oldfool]

it's a bit of a paradox for me
I have the usual obligatory overstuufed range bag full of nothing but grips X, Y, and Z

rubber grips mostly always feel real good in my hand, some feel "just right"
but I never do seem to shoot as well with them
probably has a little to do with so many years shooting so many with good wood, even even though they really don't always fit me like they technically should
"dance with the one what brung you", I guess, and round count always did matter

I shoot nearly 100% original/traditional, wood or hard plastic, or "inserts" style
but yet another rubber-made finds it's way into the overstuffed range bag from time to time

and can easily understand why that is not ideal from a duty or competition perspective